Barbara Nall, who joined LA Financial Federal Credit Union in 1967 as a member service representative, working her way up to mid-level and senior management positions, becoming the credit union’s CEO/president in 1995, will retire on April 2.

Nall will be succeeded at the $356 million institution by Carol Galizia, a 20-year credit union executive who had been senior vice president at the $1.5 billion Lake Trust Credit Union in Lansing, Mich.

Reflecting on her 46-year career, Nall said she is most proud of the recent years, successfully leading the Pasadena, Calif., credit union through significant economic challenges.

“I truly appreciate the leadership opportunity that I was given,” she said. “I’ve tried to make the credit union the best that it could be and a valuable asset for the members.”

Nall joined what was then Courts and Records FCU in 1967 as a member service representative answering phones. At that time, the credit union had under $7 million in assets and served Los Angeles county employees, the majority from the Registrar Recorders office and the LA County Courts.

Over the years, she progressed from the call center to the loan department, then to several management positions including loan manager, vice president of operations and vice president of administration.

In 1995, she was appointed president/CEO. During her tenure, Nall oversaw the implementation of many of credit union’s landmark programs and changes, including the CU’s name change in 2003 and the transition to a community charter credit union in 2004.

Under Nall’s leadership, LA Financial expanded from an employee-based credit union to those who live or work in Los Angeles County, Calif. and Lake Havasu, Ariz. She helped expand the CU’s products and services, which helped LA Financial grow to $356 million in assets and serve more than 35,000 members.

Nall also has served on the boards and committees of several trade organizations, such as the local Southwestern CUES board of directors, the California Credit Union League and WesCorp.